• Celebrate Puerto Rican culture at the Fiesta Puertorriquenas in Humboldt Park, featuring crafts, food, live music, and dancing. The festival’s high point is the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Saturday along Columbus Drive, from Balbo Drive to Monroe Street. (June 12-15)

• Festa Pasta Vino is an annual celebration of Italian food, family, and culture, featuring authentic cuisine from local restaurants, cooking demonstrations, parades, and live music. (June 12-15)

• Meet paranormal radio show host Edward Shanahan, astrologists, and tarot readers at Weather Mark Tavern’s Friday the 13^th Party. Drink specials include $2.50 Miller drafts. (June 13)

• Night owls can join Mystic Blue every Saturday for their After-Hours Moonlight Cruise. The outing on Lake Michigan includes a DJ, dancing, martinis, and free appetizers. Boarding begins at 12:15 a.m. (ends Aug 30)

• Watch more than 100 local artists work together on a 500-foot (152 m) mural along the lakefront at the Artists of the Wall Festival. The festival also features live music, arts and crafts, and food vendors. This year’s theme is “Winds of Change.” (June 14-15)

• The 59^th Annual Old Town Art Fair is the country’s oldest juried outdoor art fair and features 260 artists displaying paintings, photographs, jewelry, sculptures, and more. Enjoy live music, kids’ activities, food vendors, and a raffle. Rain or shine. (June 14-15)

• Get a variety of international foods from local restaurants, browse arts and crafts, and listen to live music from four stages at the 43^rd Annual Andersonville Midsommarfest. (June 14-15)

• About 150 local men prepare more than 200 dishes at the 19^th Annual Father’s Day Real Men Cook at the South Shore Cultural Center. The event includes kids’ games and live music. Expect everything from barbecue to soul food to desserts. (June 15)

• Enjoy something educational with Dad. Dads get free general admission at the Museum of Science and Industry in honor of Father’s Day. (June 15)

Photo credit: Glorius (c/o Flickr), Real Men Cook

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

• The 24^th Annual Playdough Palooza is the Wish List Auxiliary Board’s annual fundraising event to support the Child Life Department. This year’s fundraiser will be at Rockit Bar and Grill. All of the proceeds will fund new supplies for the Children’s Memorial Hospital. Tickets are $50-$60 via childrenswishlist.org (Jan 18)

• Ladies, spend A Night in Paradise. This girls’ night out at Climax Lounge includes wine, champagne, martinis, chocolates, tarot readings, manicures, makeovers, massages, and more. (Jan 18)

• The Greyboy Allstars, a San Diego funk and jazz group created in the early ‘90s, will be performing at the House of Blues. (Jan 18)

• Thanks to Charter One Discount Days, you can take advantage of free general admission to the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum on select days. Check the website for discount days scheduled throughout the year. (Jan 12-18, 21-22, 28-29)

• Museums and exhibits don’t build themselves. Learn how to identify and preserve items of historical significance during the daylong program, Save Our African American Treasures. Free and open to the public, the program will include films, hands-on workshops, lectures, and tips. While you are welcome to bring your own personal “treasures” and mementos, please note that monetary appraisals will not be provided. (Jan 19)

• As part of its One-Year Anniversary Party, Vitner’s will release two new vintages which you can have a chance to name as part of their contest. Stop by, sample the new wines, and then create your own, which you can purchase a bottle of at a 15 percent discount. (Jan 19)

• Directed by Jim Carlson, Between Barack and a New Show presents the best of The Second City’s hit satire Between Barack and a Hard Place and adds new original scenes and songs based on current happenings in American politics. Tickets for $19-$25 are available through secondcity.com (open-ended)

• Riding your bike in Chicago winter is no ride in the park. At the Winter Cycle Workshop with Brooklyn Fowler, learn how to service your bicycle for winter riding. Class will be held at West Town Bikes, and space is limited. Register online. Proceeds will be donated to World Bicycle Relief. (Jan 19)

• Think theatre is boring? Check out Bye Bye Liver: The Chicago Drinking Play. Grab a $3 well drink or an $8 bucket of domestic beers, and get ready for booze-themed sketch comedy and interactive drinking games.

Post from: The Chicago Traveler